1-2404. NUMBER OF JUDGES — QUALIFICATIONS — CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINE — TERM — ELECTION — SELECTION — COMPENSATION. (1) The court of appeals shall consist of four (4) judges, and shall sit in panels of not less than three (3) judges each.

(2) To be elected or appointed to the office of judge of the court of appeals a person must, at the time of such election or appointment, meet all of the following qualifications:

(a) Be at least thirty (30) years of age;

(b) Be a citizen of the United States and an elector of the state of Idaho;

(c) Have been a legal resident of the state of Idaho for at least two (2) continuous years immediately preceding such election or appointment;

(d) Have been in good standing as an active or judicial member of the Idaho state bar for at least two (2) continuous years immediately preceding such election or appointment; and

(e) Have held a license to practice law or held a judicial office in one (1) or more jurisdictions for at least ten (10) continuous years immediately preceding such election or appointment.

For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

(a) "Active," "judicial" and "good standing" have the same definitions as those terms are given by rule 301 of the Idaho bar commission rules or any successors to those rules;

(b) "Jurisdiction" means a state or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia or any branch of the United States military; and

(c) "Elector" means one who is lawfully registered to vote.

(3) A judge of the court of appeals shall be governed by the code of judicial conduct as promulgated by the Idaho supreme court, and shall be subject to removal, discipline, or retirement pursuant to section 1-2103, Idaho Code.

(4) (a) Judges of the court of appeals shall be appointed by the governor effective the first Monday of January, 1982, for the following initial terms: one (1) judge shall be appointed for a term to expire on the first Monday of January, 1985, one (1) judge shall be appointed for a term expiring two (2) years later, and one (1) judge shall be appointed for a term expiring two (2) further years later. Thereafter, the term of office of a judge of the court of appeals shall be six (6) years.

(b) Vacancies in the office of judge of the court of appeals shall be filled in the same manner as vacancies in the office of supreme court justice or district judge.

(c) The positions of judges of the Idaho court of appeals shall first be filled as vacancies. The judicial council shall submit to the governor its recommendations for the offices at the earliest practicable time after the effective date of this act. The governor may make the appointment at any time thereafter, to be effective the first Monday of January, 1982, for the terms set forth in subsection (4)(a) of this section.

(d) In making its nominations for the initial vacancies to be created by this act, the Idaho judicial council shall submit the names of not less than six (6) nor more than nine (9) qualified persons for the initial three (3) vacancies to be created by this act. Otherwise, the judicial council shall submit the names of not less than two (2) nor more than four (4) persons for each vacancy. The governor shall appoint the judges, identifying each appointment by the length of the term of appointment.

(e) Nominations and appointments to fill initial or subsequent vacancies shall be made with due regard for balanced geographical membership of the court of appeals.

(f) Subsequent terms of office of a judge who has been appointed to the court of appeals shall be subject to a statewide nonpartisan election to be held in the primary election next preceding the expiration of an appointed term in the same method and manner as a justice of the supreme court.

(g) A fourth judge of the court of appeals shall be appointed by the governor effective the first Monday of January, 2009, for an initial term to expire on the first Monday of January, 2013. Thereafter, the term of office for this position shall be six (6) years. The judicial council shall submit the names of not less than two (2) nor more than four (4) persons for the initial vacancy in this position under the procedure set forth in section 1-2102, Idaho Code. This position shall be subject to all of the provisions relating to qualifications, removal, discipline, retirement, filling of vacancies, election and compensation set forth in this chapter.

(5) Judges of the court of appeals, except for judges who have made an election to remain in the public employee retirement system of Idaho pursuant to section 1-2011, Idaho Code, shall receive compensation upon retirement as provided in chapter 20, title 1, Idaho Code.

History:

[1-2404, added 1980, ch. 245, sec. 1, p. 565; am. 1981. ch. 271, sec. 1, p. 572; am. 1985, ch. 29, sec. 5, p. 55; am. 1998, ch. 126, sec. 4, p. 470; am. 2008, ch. 24, sec. 1, p. 36; am. 2014, ch. 291, sec. 4, p. 735; am. 2015, ch. 310, sec. 2, p. 1216.]